rock wren

rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) Photo © Brian Tang

FEATURES
The rock wren is about six inches long (tail tip to bill tip in preserved specimen). It has gray feathers on the back, wings and tail. There are light-brown streaks on the white breast feathers. The rump has rust-colored feathers. There is a light line over the eye and light-tan coloration at the tip of the tail feathers.

BEHAVIORS
This bird stays near the ground. It fans its tail. It is a native of western North America that is occasionally seen further to the east. Although it has been observed in Illinois, there are very few records of sightings. It eats insects and spiders.

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Troglodytidae

​vagrant, native